Radiant heating module

ABSTRACT

A radiant heating module has an electrical radiant heating panel mounted within a casing in spaced relation to the back wall thereof in order to prevent deleterious heat buildup by allowing air movement therebetween. A channel-shaped raceway coextensive in length with the casing is mounted on the side of the casing backwall opposite the panel to protect the power supply wires for the panel. Triangular-shaped end plates are provided on the casing for closing the ends of the raceway and to provide a guide for attaching the casing at an acute angle onto a sidewall along the ceiling level at the cove of the room. Brackets support the casing in such manner that air can circulate between the casing, ceiling and sidewall to prevent deleterious heat buildup. The end plates are removable to allow a plurality of modules to be placed end to end to form an assembly.

United States Patent [72] Inventor Mabel W. Zellers 900 Center Ave., Reading, Pa. 19601 [21] Appl. No. 680,419 [22] Filed Nov. 3, 1967 [45] Patented June 1, 1971 [54] RADIANT HEATING MODULE 3 Claims, 7 Drawing Figs.

[52] U.S.Cl 219/345, 165/49,165/53, 219/350, 219/377, 248/488 [51] Int. Cl 1105b 3/20, F24h 9/08 [50] Field of Search 219/342, 345, 339; 165/49, 53, 54, 55; 219/339, 340, 342358, 377; 248/488 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 498,902 6/1893 Lynch 248/488 1,879,403 9/1932 Monroe..... 248/488 2,717,950 9/1955 Nathanson 219/345 3,060,300 10/1962 l-Iorner 219/345 3,062,945 11/1962 Glynn 219/345 3,278,722 10/1966 Fannon et a1. 219/343 2,822,457 2/1958 Hatch 219/345 Primary Examiner-A. Bartis Attorne aMarkva, Smith and Kruger ABSTRACT: A radiant heating module has an electrical radiant heating panel mounted within a casing in spaced relation to the back wall thereof in order to prevent deleterious heat buildup by allowing air movement therebetween. A channelshaped raceway coextensive in length with the casing is mounted on the side of the casing backwall opposite the panel to protect the power supply wires for the panel. Triangularshaped end plates are provided on the casing for closing the ends of the raceway and to provide a guide for attaching the casing at an acute angle onto a sidewall along the ceiling level at the cove of the room. Brackets support the casing in such manner that air can circulate between the casing, ceiling and sidewall to prevent deleterious heat buildup. The end plates are removable to allow a plurality of modules to be placed end to end to form an assembly.

PATENTED JUN 1 I97! SHEET 1 BF 2 INVENTOR MIABEL \D.Z-ELLERS IENTED Jun 1 l97| SHEET 2 BF 2 INVENTOR MABEL LU. ZELLERS RADIANT HEATING MODULE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION There are basically two types of heating that are commonly used to heat the air and objects in buildings; namely, convection heat and radiant heat. With convection heat, the air is usually heated by heat emanating from some form of solid metal. Being lighter than cold air, this heated air rises to the top of the room. During its circulation, it nears the outside wall and is cooled. As the air cools, it becomes heavier and consequently drops to the floor. This particular method of heated air rising and cold air dropping creates a circulation of the air from one point in the room to the other. Undesirable drafts are inherently attendant. The initial energy has to be transferred from its source, either flame or electricity, to a heated solid material. Heat then transfers to the air which circulates in a room as noted above. As the air circulates, a person standing in the room is finally warmed. Obviously, there are many efficiency losses in this type of convection heating. The major inefficiency is the necessity of heating the air in the room before an inhabitant. In addition, major heat losses to such objects as windows sustain inherent inefficiency.

In contrast, radiant heat is a direct form of heating. The ihhabitant of a room is warmed by radiant rays directly from the particular heat source. The air need not be warmed before the inhabitant. There are many attendant advantages to the use of radiant heat which are well known in the prior art. Included among them is even warming of a room without air circulation. Because windows reflect radiant rays back into a room, heat loss is considerably less.

There are many types of radiation heaters available in the prior art. Included among them are wall and ceiling units which lie flat against the supporting structure and radiate heat rays away from the supporting wall or ceiling. There are also cove units employed at wall corners or at the corner at a wall and ceiling intersection. However, many of the prior art radiant heating units require large amounts of insulation to prevent burning and charring of the building structure supporting said units. Other prior art units solve the burning and charring problem by requiring additional support frame structures enabling a flow of air to pass between the units reflector casings and said support structures, thereby dissipating problem-causing heat. The flat heating units radiate heat rays to objects directly away from the supporting structure. This type of unit provides a minimum amount of reflected radiant rays. On the other hand, known cove units provide radiant heating systems which incorporate the use of reflected radiant rays, thereby enhancing heating efficiency.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In contrast, the heating module of this invention not only incorporates the attendant advantages of radiant heating, but also has distinct novelty and improvements over known prior art units. Structurally, this heating module requires no insulation to protect-the supporting structure from heat buildup around the heating unit. Neither does the radiant heating module of this invention require additional framework structure between the supporting structure and the casing in which the heating element is mounted as in other prior art units. The module of this invention is constructed to provide the most efficient control of directed radiant rays. It incorporates both the advantages of flat units along with maximum use of reflected radiant rays as found in known cove units.

It is an object of this invention to have a radiant heating module that may be easily installed, either separately or in an assembly of a plurality of modules.

It is another object of this invention to present a radiant heating module which does not require large amounts of ventilation nor specific structure to dissipate heat buildup, thereby preventing charring or burning of the supporting structure at the module.

It is another object of this invention to provide a radiant "heating module which may be installed in corners. It is particularly adaptable as a cove unit for placement onto a sidewall along the ceiling at a sufficient angle to provide the most efficient use of the emanating radiant rays. As a cove unit, the module of this invention combines the most desirable radiant ray-directing characteristics of both the known flat and cove units of the prior art. Such an installation provides an extremely efficient yet inconspicuous source of heat.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a radiant heating module which may be installed so there is no interference in the room with regard to heat flow relative to placement offurniture or objects in the room.

Another object of this invention is to provide an instant heating, low cost, quiet, electric heating module which converts electricity directly to heat. All air drafts are eliminated due to even heating without the necessity of air circulation.

The above and other objects and features of the invention will appear hereinafter from a consideration of the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein one embodiment of the invention is illustrated by way of example.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS This invention embodies other novel features, details of construction and arrangement of parts which are hereinafter set forth in the specification and claims and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a radiant heating module of this invention as it is installed on the sidewall along the ceiling of a room;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the back portion ofa specific embodiment of the invention as disclosed;

FIG. 3 is a view of-the bracket means used to install the basic heating module on the wall along the ceiling;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of a specific embodiment of the heating module taken on the line 4-4 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view of the invention taken on the line 5-5 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the heating panel structure; and

FIG. 7 is an exploded view, partly in section, showing the heating panel as it is mounted in the frame casing.

DESCRIPTION OF A SPECIFIC EMBODIMENT Referring more specifically to the drawings, a radiant heating module generally designated 9 is shown in FIG. 1, installed on the sidewall along the ceiling of a room. A second heating module is shadowed into FIG. 1 to show how a plurality of modules of this invention may be installed to form an assembly. The unnumbered arrows describe the general directions of emanating radiant rays.

Each radiant heating module comprises a casing 10, a radiant heating panel 11, and end plate 12. Each module is attached to the supporting wall and ceiling by way of the bracket 14 at an effective distance away from the supporting structure 17 to prevent heat buildup. A raceway housing 13 is attached to the outside of the casing 10 on its back portion by way of bolts 19 and locl'E- nuts 20. The radiant heating module 9 is snapped into the assembly bracket 14 and is thereby spaced at least about 1 inch away from supporting structure 17. Screws 16 introduced into the supporting structure hold the assembly bracket 14 containing the module 2.

A channel-shaped housing 13 provides a raceway for main current wires 21 and ground wire 22. (See FIG. 2.) The wires 21 and 22 protrude from the outlet box 23 and lead to the power supply outlet (not shown). A hold 24 is provided in the outlet box 23 for wires to electrically interconnect other radiant heating modules if so desired. A hole 25 in raceway housing 13 provides a means for working with the wires 21. Clips 26 hold the wires 21 supplying the current to the heating panel 11. Spacer means 18 help to maintain a substantially consistent spacing between the back of the casing 10 and the heating panel 11.

The end plate 12 has the shape of a right triangle with the angle near the ceiling being about 60. A guide is thereby provided for mounting the module 9 on the wall at about a 30 angle position. With the module 9 mounted at such a position, the directed radiant rays are controlled to provide the most efficient means for heating objects and persons in a room. The positioning provides a combination of the best radiant raydirecting characteristics of both the flat and cove units of the prior art.

That the end plates are removable permits a plurality of modules to be placed in continuity along a wall or corner. The resulting assembly may then be supplied from a single current outlet. To be removable, the end plates 12 are provided with slots 27 and 28 which fit over bolts 29 and 30, respectively. In addition, the particular end plates 12 are used to close the raceway openings at either end of the radiant heating module 9. Finally, the end plates l2 may be used as a decorative part of the heating module.

Each end plate 12 is adjacent an endpiece 31 into which the radiant heating panel 11 is mounted. The endpiece 31 is provided with tabs 32 and 33 for the purpose of holding corner cushions 34 and 35, respectively. The heating panel 1] fits into channels 36 and 37 of corner cushions 34 and 35, respectively. in addition, the heating panel 11 is provided with cushions 38 and 39 at the end edge of the heating panel 11. The channels 40 and 41 are shown in the panel end edge cushions 38 and 39, respectively. Use of the corner cushions 34 and 35 and panel end cushions 38 and 39 to support heating panel 11 in casing provides an air space between the heating panel 11 and the casing 10. The heating panel 11 must be at a sufficient distance from the casing 10 to prevent heat buildup within the structure of the module 9. The said distance of the specific embodiment is about seven-sixteenth of an inch. All of the size parameters with respect to the various parts of the module 9 must be considered to accomplish the desired results. This manner of mounting eliminates the need for heavy insulation material to be placed within the structure of the radiant heating module 9. The movement of air between the heating panel 11 and the casing 10 and between the supporting structure 17 and the casing 10 dissipates any heat buildup. Therefore, the possibility of overheating and charting of the supporting wall structure 17 is eliminated. The bars 42 guard the end of the panel 11 as it is mounted in the endpiece 31. The guard bars 42 may be of any material as desired for decorative and protective purposes.

The bracket 14 and portions 14a and 14b extend out away from the supporting wall 17a and ceiling 17b, respectively, when attached by way of screws 16. The mounted module 9 is positioned between bracket portions 140 and 14b. A lug l5 acts as a spacing means and holds the radiant heating module 9 an effective distance away from the supporting structure 17 to allow sufficient circulation between the outside of the heating unit, thereby helping to prevent heat buildup.

The heating panel unit 11 comprises a pebbled temperedglass plate 43, a resistance coating 44 providing a heating element, a layer of adhesive material 45, and a glass fiber cloth 46. The cloth 46 prevents shattering of the glass 43 in the event of breakage. Conventional electrical terminal connections 47 are secured to the back surface of the glass plate 43 in contact with the resistance coating 44.

A pebbled tempered-glass 43 is specifically used because of its heat resistance. The resistive coating 44 is applied to the said glass 43 to provide a fixed conductor system over the entire panel. An adhesive coating 45 having a predetermined thickness is placed over the conductor system. A preferred adhesive material is the silicone material Silastic RTV-73 l which vulcanizes to form a rubberlike product. A glass fiber cloth 46 is placed over the silicone coating 45 which is still wet, thereby enabling the silicone material to work itself into the holes of the glass fiber material 46. The glass fiber material 46 is thereby held securely to the panel 11. This construction of glass fiber 46 and silicone coating 45 provides an insulator material which hel 5 direct the radiant rays in the desired controlled direction, t ereby minimizing the radiant rays directed toward the metal panel casting 10. A further advantage is that wasted energy is minimized through the use of this construction. In addition, the particular construction of fiber glass 46 and silicone coating 45 reinforces the glass plate 43 so that there is less tendency for the glass to shatter. vulcanization of the silicone material 46 is completed under known prior art conditions.

While this invention has been shown with respect to a very specific embodiment, it is obvious to those skilled in the art that it is susceptible to various other changes and modifications without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

I claim:

1. A radiant heating module comprising:

a. a casing having a backwall and an open front,

b. an electrical radiant heating panel means mounted within the front portion of the casing at a spaced distance from the backwall to prevent deleterious heat buildup by allowing the movement of air therebetween,

c. a continuous raceway housing mounted on the side of the backwall opposite the heating panel means to protect electrical current supply wires disposed therein,

d. said raceway housing being coextensive in length with the length of the casing,

. end plate means having a triangular shape to provide a guide for attaching the casing at an angle onto a sidewall along the ceiling level at the cove ofa room and providing a closing means for the raceway housing at each end thereof, and

f. bracket means for attaching the casing at an angle to said sidewall at the cove along the ceiling level,

g. said bracket means including a ceiling-contacting portion, a wall-contacting portion and end portions adapted to support the casing whereby an air circulation space is provided between the casing and the ceiling and sidewall of the room to prevent deleterious heat buildup by allowing movement of air therebetween.

2. A heating module as defined in claim 1 wherein said end plate means are removable to allow a plurality of modules to be placed end to end to form an assembly.

3. A heating module as defined in claim 1 wherein the end portions are snap fitted over peripheral edge portions of the casing. 

1. A radiant heating module comprising: a. a casing having a backwall and an open front, b. an electrical radiant heating panel means mounted within the front portion of the casing at a spaced distance from the backwall to prevent deleterious heat buildup by allowing the movement of air therebetween, c. a continuous raceway housing mounted on the side of the backwall opposite the heating panel means to protect electrical current supply wires disposed therein, d. said raceway housing being coextensive in length with the length of the casing, e. end plate means having a triangular shape to provide a guide for attaching the casing at an angle onto a sidewall along the ceiling level at the cove of a room and providing a closing means for the raceway housing at each end thereof, and f. bracket means for attaching the casing at an angle to said sidewall at the cove along the ceiling level, g. said bracket means including a ceiling-contacting portion, a wall-contacting portion and end portions adapted to support the casing whereby an air circulation space is provided between the caSing and the ceiling and sidewall of the room to prevent deleterious heat buildup by allowing movement of air therebetween.
 2. A heating module as defined in claim 1 wherein said end plate means are removable to allow a plurality of modules to be placed end to end to form an assembly.
 3. A heating module as defined in claim 1 wherein the end portions are snap fitted over peripheral edge portions of the casing. 